Artificial tree



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A EKDAHL ARTIFICIAL TREE Flled Julv 20 1925 lan. 4 1927,

Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALBERT EKDAHL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

.ARTIFICIAL TREE.

Application led 311157,20, 1926. Serial No. 123,661.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable andrelatively ineXpensive artificial tree, adapted for use during theChristmas season, and at other times.

Cf the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatiom*Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tree embodying the invention, thebranches at one side of the trunk being broken away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on line .2f-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows in perspective and separated from each other, one of thesleeves and one of the branches.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the outer end of one of'the branches and a Candlestick thereon.

Figure 6 is a. section on line 6-6 of Figure 5. l

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing an electric lamp as thelight.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In the drawings, 12 designates a base which may be of any suitable formand material, and is suitably weighted. 13 designates a continuoustubular tapered sheet metal trunk, perpendicular to the base and fixedat its lower end thereto. The diameter of the trunk gradually decreasesfrom the lower to the upper end.

The tree includes a plurality of sleeves 14, slidable on the trunk, anddiffering in internal diameter, so that each sleeve is Supported infrictional contact with the trunk, at a different height from theothers. Fixed `to and radiating from each sleeve is a plurality ofbranches, each composed of an elongated sheet metal strip bent to form avertically arranged shank portion 15, soldered to the sleeve, and anupwardly facing hook portion 16, spaced outwardly from the sleeve andadapted to support and confine, at a predetermined distance from thesleeve, a

pendant 17, which may be any article of" ornament or utility,customarily suspended from a Christmas tree. The outer end Vportion ofthe strip may be adapted in any suitable way, to support a light.As'shown by Figures 1, 4:, 5 and 6, the outer end portion of the stripis bent to form a horizontal ear E 18, supporting a candlestick composedof a horizontal drip-collecting base 19,` soldered to the ear, and avertical candle socket 20, fixed to the base.

The upper end of the trunk may be provided with any suitablelight-supporting means, such as a candlestick composed of a horizontaldrip-collecting base 21, a downwardly projecting socket 22, fixed to thebase and adapted to receive the upper end portion of the trunk, and anupwardly projecting candle socket 23.

Each sleeve and the branches attached thereto constitutes a unit whichis removable from the trunk, and may be packed` with the other units forstorage and shipment, the units being of diHerent sizes, as shown byFigure 1.

In assembling the parts, the larger sleeve and its branches are firstapplied to the trunk, the others being successively applied.

The ear 18 of each branch may be provided with an electric lamp socket25, adapted to support the bulb 26 of an incandescent electric lamp, theinsulated conducting wires 27 of which may be conducted along thebranch. and secured thereto by any suitable means. An electriclainp maybe similarly supported at the upper end of the trunk.

Each sleeve lt and the strips fixed thereto and radiating therefrom,constitutes a unitary.

branch cluster, and each cluster is adapted to be independently engaged,as a unit, with the trunk, and independently separated, as a unit, fromthe trunk, and stored therewith, and with the other units, for shipment.The sleeve of each cluster is so proportioned, and the strips xedthereto are so arranged that when the tree is completed, the clustersare separated Afrom each other and constitute independent clusters, asshown by Figure 1. The result is a conventional tree not closelysimulating a natural tree, and adapted to be conveniently loaded lwithChristmas presents.

Y The number of tree parts or units which have to be separately handledis reduced to a minimum and is determined chiefly by the number ofunitary branch clusters.

I claim:

l v l An artificial tree comprising a continuous ltapered tube,constituting the trunk and prof vided with a base, and a pluralityofunitary branch clusters, each adapted 'to be independently engagedV as aunit with the trunk, and independentlyy separated as a unit fromthetrunk and stored therewith, and With the other units for shipment7 eachunitary cluster being composed of a tapered sleeve formed to embrace aportion of the trunkit and a plurality of strips fixed at their innerends to the sleeve and radiating therefrom, the sleevesbeingproportioned, and the strips being arranged on the sleeve, so thatwhen the tree is completed, the clusters are separated from each otherand constitute a series of independent Clusters, the length of thestrips and the diameter ot' the sleeve of each cluster being,` differentfrom those of the strips and sleeves of the other clusters, so that whenthe clusters are assembled on the trunk, the tree has a tapered effect.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ALBERT EKDAHL.

